Foam generating cleaning device



Feb. 21, 1956 H. c. ERBS 2,735,125

FOAM GENERATING CLEANING DEVICE Filed Feb. 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

HOG/(EN 6. E1755 ATTORNEYS Feb. 21, 1956 H. c. ERBS 2,735,125

FOAM GENERATING CLEANING DEVICE Filed Feb. 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR.

I-IOGKE/V 0. ERBS BYM/MM FOAM GENERATING CLEANING DEVICE Hocken C. Erbs,Cleveland, Ghio Application February 23, 1952, Serial N 0. 273,034

7 Claims. (Cl. 15-131) This invention relates, as indicated, to cleaningdevices, but has reference more particularly to that type of cleaningdevice in which cleaning suds are produced and utilized to scrub orclean a surface by means of brushes.

A primary object of the invention is to provide devices of the characterdescribed, consisting of a minimum number of parts which are easilymanufactured and capable of being made and assembled at low cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide devices of the characterdescribed, which are readily adapted for use in connection with home andcommercial vacuum cleaners, and blowers, and with which cleaning may beaccomplished inexpensively, efficiently, and in a fraction of the timerequired for conventionel methods of cleaning.

A further object of the invention is to provide devices of the charatcerdescribed, which have embodied therein air and fluid controls which areeasily accessible and easy to operate, and through the use of which thecharacter or quality of the suds can be varied to a considerable degree.

A still further object of the invention is to provide devices of thecharacter described, which are so constructed, that they can be quicklyand easily disassembled for cleaning, or replacement of worn parts, andjust as quickly and easily assembled.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during thecourse of the following description. In the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification and in which like numerals areemployed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig; 1 is a top plan view of one form of cleaning device embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is 'a side elevational view of the cleaning device;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view, taken on theline 33 of Fig. 1.;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 44 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view, taken on the line 55 ofFig. 3', and

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view, taken on the line 66 ofFig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the clean ing machine willbe seen to comprise a container, generally indicated by referencecharacter C having a flat bottom 11, rounded sides 12 and 13, a topcomposed of oppositely sloping flat portions 14 and 15 and a roundedapex 16 formed by the juncture of the portions 14 and 15, a forward orfront wall 17 and a rear wall 18. The

rear wall 18has an opening 19adapte'd to be closed by means of'a closurecap 20.

The walls 17 and 18 are respectively provided with axially alignedopenings 21 and 22, just below the apex 16. A tube 23 extends throughthe container, below the apex 16 and through the openings 21 and 22, thetube extending forwardly of the opening 21 and rearwardly of the opening22. The joints between the tube 23 and openings'21 and22 are soldered orWelded, so as to make them States Patent 0 leakproof and firmly andrigidly secure the tube to the container.

A brush head is provided consisting of a hollow metallic body 24'ofgenerally rectangular conformation, and a rectangular metallic frame 25,in which brush bristles 26 are embedded. The frame 25 is removablysecured to the body 24, as by means of screws 27, so that the frame 25can be removed from the body when the bristles 26 are worn out, withoutreplacing the entire brush head.

The body 24 of the brush head has a tubular extension 28 formedintegrally therewith, aportion of which is split to form a clampingcollar 29 having lugs'30 and 31 through which the threaded stem 32 of awingnut 33 extends. By inserting the forward end of the tube 23 into thetubular extension 28, and tightening the nut 33, the brush head may befirmly clamped to the tube 23, yet is removable from the tube 23 forcleaning and storing purposes.

In order to insure that the brush head is properlypositioned'circumferentially with respect to the tube 23 and the fluidcontainer C, the forward end of the tube 23 has a recess 34 cut in thelower Wall thereof, for the reception of a screw 35 which is mounted inthe tubular extension 28 of the brush head and extends radially inwardlyof the tubular extension. The screw 35 not only determines the positionof the head circumferentially in relation to the tube 23, but also, byvirtue of the engagement of the screw with the bottom of the recess 34,determines the proper position of the brush head axially'with respect tothe tube 23. The screw 35 has a third function which will bepresentlydescribed.

Disposed within the tube 23, at a point adjacent the front wall 17 ofthe fluid container C, is a valve body 36 having areduced lower portion37 which extends through an opening 38 in the wall of the tube 23. Theportion 37 of the valve body is exteriorly threaded for the attachmentthereto of a'nut 39, which rigidly clamps the valve body to the innerwall of the tube and is soldered or welded to the tube (see Fig; 4).

The valve body 36 has a tapered or conical socket 40 extendingtransversely therethrough, which communicates-with an-axial bore 41,which is counterbored and threaded, as at 42, for the reception of theupper end of a fluid suction or supply tube 43, which extends to a pointadjacent the'bottom of the fluid container C and is curved at its lowerend.

Mounted-within the socket 40 of the valve body 36 is a valve 44 havingan axial bore 45 in its forward end, which communicates with aradial-passageway 46 adapted for registration with the bore 41 in thevalve body 36. The valve 44 has a square socket 47 in its rear end forthe reception of the squared forward end 48 of a control rod 49.

The control rod 49 extends axially through tube 23 to a point 50, whereit has rigidly secured thereto, as by a set screw 51, a valve rodcontrol post 52. An ar'cuate element 53, is secured to the post 52 bymeans of the screw 51 and snugly embraces the outer surface of the tube23. This element extends through about 200 degrees, embraces the outersurface of the tube 23, and is rotatable about the tube through an angleof about degrees, a slot 53a, about 90 degrees in length, being providedin the wall of the tube for passage of the upper end of the post 52,whereby such rotation is permitted. Rotation of the element 53 to theposition shown in solid lines in Fig. 5 causes the rod 49 to be rotated,which, in turn, rotates the valve 44 to a position wherein thepassageway 46" is in registration with thebore 41, and in this position,a maximum quantity of fluid can flow from the container C through thebore 45 of the valve. Rotation of the element 53 to the broken lineposition shown in Fig. causes the rod 49 to be rotated in the oppositedirection, which, in turn, rotates the valve 44 to a position whereinthe passageway 46 is completely out of registration with the'bore 41,and in this position no fluid can flow from the container C through thebore 45 of the valve. Rotation of the valve 44 to positions intermediatethe aforesaid extreme positions varies the quantity of fluid flowthrough the valve.

Rearwardly of the post 52, the rod 49 passes through the center of adisk 54 which is of the same diameter as the internal diameter of thetube 23, and is removably secured in position by screws 55 which extendthrough the wall of the tube and into the disk. The disk 54 is providedwith a pair of openings 56, spaced circumferentially from each other 180degrees.

Rearwardly of the disk 54 and in contiguity therewith is a second disk57, through the center of which the rod 49 passes. The disk 57 is alsoprovided with openings 58 of the same size as the openings 56 and spacedsimilarly to the latter. The disk 57 is rotatable about the control rod49. A semi-circular element 60, similar to the element 53, is secured asby a screw 59, to the disk 57, and embraces the outer surface of thetube 23. The element 60 is rotatable about the tube through an angle ofabout 90 degrees, a slot 61 being provided in the wall of the tube forpassage of the screw 59, whereby such rotation is permitted.

The disks 54 and 57 constitute an air control valve for permitting airvolume and pressure changes, which control the amount of suds producedby the cleaning machine. Rotation of the element 60 to the positionshown in solid lines in Fig. 6, causes the disk 57 to be rotated to aposition wherein the openings 58 are in registration with the openings56, and in this position, a maximum volume of air can flow through thevalve. Rotation of the element 60 to the broken line position shown inFig. 6, causes the disk 57 to be rotated in the opposite direction, andin this position, the openings 58 are completely out of registrationwith the openings 56, so that no air can pass through the valve.Rotation of the disk 57 to positions intermediate the aforesaid extremepositions varies the quantity of air flowing through the valve.

A compression coil spring 62 is mounted on the rod 49 between the post52 and disk 54 and exerts a push on the rod 49 which is suflicient tomaintain the valve 44 tightly in its socket 40. The slight movement ofthe rod 49 necessary for this purpose is permitted by virtue of the factthat the diameter of the upper end of the post 52 is slightly smallerthan the width of the slot 5311.

A similar compression coil spring 63 is mounted on the rod 49 betweenthe disk 57 and a nut 64 on the rear end of the rod. This spring, whichis slightly weaker than the spring 62, exerts a pressure on the disk 57,maintaining the disk 57 in contact with the disk 54, so as to render theair valve air-tight when closed. The slight movement of the disk 57necessary for this purpose is permitted by virtue of the fact that thescrew 59 is of smaller diameter than the width of the slot 61.

An air filter or screen 65 is removably secured within the tube 23,rearwardly of the air valve, as by means of screws 66, which extendthrough the wall of the tube into an annular band or collar 67 to whichthe screen 65 is soldered. This screen functions to filter the airbefore it enters the machine.

A screen assembly or unit generally indicated by reference numeral 68,is disposed within the tube 23, forwardly of the valve 44. This assemblycomprises a multiplicity of spaced annular bands 69, 70, 71 and 72,interconnected as by longitudinal bands 73 and 74, a woven wire screen75 being soldered to each band. The band 72 has disk 76 soldered theretoat the rear, said disc having a central aperture 77 in which the nose ofthe valve 44 is received.

Secured to the band 69 is a rod 78 having an upturned forward portion79. The screen assembly, including the screens, bands and rod, extendsfrom the screw 35 to the nose of the valve 46, and is maintained inposition by the screw 35, which thus has a three-fold function.

An inspection plug 80 is also provided, which is mounted in an opening81 in the fluid container C directly above the valve body 36, and issecured in position, as by a nut 82 which is threaded onto the plug. Theplug extends through an opening 83 in tube 23.

Pressure is etfected on the liquid cleaner or detergent L in thecontainer C by passage of air through a small orifice 84 in the tube 23adjacent the rear wall 18 of the container. The portion of the tube 23which extends through the container C is both air and watertight, withthe exception of the orifice 84.

The operation of the aforesaid cleaning device will now be brieflydescribed.

Assuming that the air and liquid control valves are open, and that therear end of the tube 23 is connected to a source of compressed air,which may be derived from a vacuum cleaner (home or commercial), an airtank, an air pump, an air compressor, or the like, the air will passthrough the air valve, through the orifice 84, and into the container C,which, as previously stated, contains a liquid cleaner or detergent L.

The pressure of air in the container C will force the liquid L upthrough the tube 43, bore 41, passageway 46, bore 45 and screens 72, 71,70 and 69, in succession. In its passage through the screens, the fluidis broken up into extremely small particles, and turned into a dry suds,which is extremely effective for cleaning rugs, carpets, upholstery andall types of cleanablefabrics. The suds pass through the brush head andare distributed and rubbed into the material being cleaned by movementof the bristles 26 over the surface being cleaned. The cleaning isaccomplished inexpensively, efliciently, and in a fraction of the timerequired for conventional methods of cleaning.

The air and fluid controls which have been provided are easilyaccessible, and easy to operate, and through the use of these controls,the character of the suds can be varied to a considerable extent.

The machine is so constructed that it can be quickly and easilydisassembled for cleaning or replacement of worn parts, and just asquickly and easily assembled.

The air and liquid control valves can be quickly removed for disassemblyand cleaning by first removing the air filter 65 and the screws 51, 55and 59, after which the rod 49 and valves can be removed by withdrawalthrough the rear end of the tube 23. The disks 54 and 57 may be removedfor cleaning by first removing the nut 64 from the rod 49. After this,the valve body 36 can be removed by removing the plug 80 and thenunscrewing the valve body from the nut 39. The screen assembly orsudsing device can be removed for cleaning through the front end of thetube 23 by first removing the brush head.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown anddescribed, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a fluid container havingfront and rear walls, a tubular element secured to said container andextending through said container and through the front and rear wallsthereof, a rotary valve disposed in said tubular element and having anaxial bore therein which is coaxial with the axis of said tubularelement, a supply tube providing selective communication between theinterior of said container and said axial bore, means for forcing fluidfrom said fluid container into said axial bore, means for actuating saidvalve to control the quantity of fluid passing into said bore, saidlast-named means including a control rod extending axially through saidtubular element and operatively connected to said valve to rotate saidvalve, said control rod being rotated by means of an element connectedto said rod through an opening in said tubular ele ment and embracingsaid tubular element, said fluid forcing means comprising a pair ofdiscs disposed in said tubular element and in contiguity with eachother, said discs having openings therein for admitting air underpressure, and means for rotating one of said discs relatively to theother.

2. A device, as defined in claim 1, in which said disc rotating meanscomprises an element connected to said rotary disc through an opening insaid tubular element and embracing said tubular element.

3. In a device of the character described, a tubular element open at itsforward end and having a valve therein through which fluid flows to saidforward end, a hollow brush head removably secured to said tubularelement adjacent said forward end and having open communicationtherethrough for said fluid from said forward end, a screen assemblyunit disposed in said tubular element and having one end thereof inabutment with said valve, and a screw extending through said brush headand abutting the other end of said unit for maintaining said unitagainst axial movement.

4. A device, as defined in claim 3, in which said unit is provided witha rod having an upturned forward portion against which said screw bears.

5. A device, as defined in claim 3, in which said tubular element has arecess extending thereinto from its forward end, and said screw extendsthrough said recess and bears against the bottom of said recess, wherebythe screw not only determines the circumferential position of the brushhead relatively to the tubular element, but also determines the positionof the brush head axially with respect to said tubular element.

6. In a device of the character described, a fluid container, a tubularelement secured to said container, a valve disposed in said tubularelement and having an axial bore therein which is coaxial with the axisof said tubular element, a supply providing selective communicationbetween the interior of said container and said axial bore, means forforcing fluid from said container into said axial bore, a control rodextending axially through said tubular element and operative to rotatesaid valve, an element connected to said rod through an opening in saidtubular element and partially embracing said tubular element androtatable about said tubular element to rotate said control rod, saidfluid-forcing means comprising a pair of discs disposed in said tubularelement and in contiguity with each other and each having openingstherein for admitting air pressure, one of said discs being securedagainst rotation relatively to said tubular element, and an elementconnected to the other of said discs through an opening in said tubularelement and partially embracing said tubular element and rotatable aboutsaid tubular element to rotate the other of said discs.

7. A device, as defined in claim 6, in which said control rod extendsaxially through said discs, and has abutting means at one end thereof inspaced relation to said other disc, a compression coil spring disposedabout the control rod between said first disc and the connection of saidfirst element to said rod and exerting pressure to maintain the controlrod against axial movement, and a second compression coil springdisposed about the control rod between abutting means and said otherdisc and exerting pressure to force the other disc against the firstdisc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,191,786 Hill July 18, 1916 1,261,814 Hoefier et al Apr. 9, 19181,457,895 Campanella June 5, 1923 1,523,855 Barrows Jan. 20, 19251,773,820 Lysons Aug. 26, 1930 1,809,073 Schylander June 9, 19311,862,430 Robb June 7, 1932 1,876,644 Downs Sept. 13, 1932 1,968,316Schmitt July 31, 1934 2,200,026 Juelson May 7, 1940 2,243,935 WilliamsonJune 30, 1941 2,501,426 Voorhees Mar. 21, 1950 2,509,992 Soss May 30,1950 2,514,107 Trostler July 4, 1950 2,542,709 Rowland Feb. 20, 19512,576,668 Bramball Nov. 27, 1951 2,598,377 Herrera May 27, 19522,607,067 Minerley Aug. 19, 1952 2,607,068 Minerley Aug. 19, 19522,624,622 Holte Jan. 6, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 39,663 Germany June 20,1887

